A STUDY OF THE LODGEPOLE-PINE FORESTS 

 OF BOULDER PARK (TOLLAND, COLORADO)^ 



By Miss Katharine Bruderlin 



Location and extent of Boulder Park. 



General appearance of Boulder Park. 



The climax formation. 



The development of the lodgepole-pine forest. 



The close formation. 



The open formation. 



Other trees of the forest. 



Shrubs of the forest floor. 



Herbs of the forest floor. 



Summary. 



Location and Extent of Boulder Park. — Boulder Park is situated 

 at Tolland, Colorado, on the Denver, Northwestern and Pacific 

 Railroad in South Boulder Canyon at an altitude of about 8,900 feet. 

 The park is about 34 miles in a straight line northwest of Denver and 

 18 miles southwest of Boulder. In extent it is about one and one- 

 half miles long and one-half mile wide, and is traversed from west 

 to east by South Boulder Creek. The railroad enters from the east, 

 going across the entire length of the park and leaving at the western 

 end to ascend the southern slope of a high mountain north of the park. 

 The ascent is made in three successive elevations and from this the 

 mountain receives the name "Giant's Ladder." On the slopes of 

 the mountains which hem in the park, there are lodgepole-pine forests 

 in various stages of development. 



General Appearance of Boulder Park. — Lodgepole-pine forest is 

 the general covering of the mountains surrounding Boulder Park. 

 A marked difference may be noted in the nature and abundance of 

 the vegetation on the north and south sides of the valley. The 

 slope of the south side is steeper, the soil has a coarser texture and 

 there is less moisture than on the north side. 



' Publication of the Colorado Biological Survey, No. 3. 



265 



